The Commission on 2020 Public Services Work Programme

The following projects and activities are being undertaken by the Commission on 2020 Public Services throughout 2009-2010 to explore evidence and generate ideas for the future of public services.

Scoping the ChallengesThe historical context of public services and a stocktake of the evidence on policy reforms and innovations to date; an exploration of drivers for change for public services and framing the implications for policy created by these drivers; and an exploration of the economic and fiscal issues involved in setting our vision for 2020 public services.

Citizens, State and SocietyInvestigating options for a new social contract between the Citizen and the State, including rights and responsibilities, and the role of the third sector and civil society/family.

Local Public ServicesA new citizen-centred vision for local government in 2020, and the principles and model - including governance, funding, decision making and accountability - required to implement this vision.

The Future Delivery of Public ServicesExamines of issues related to the delivery of public services, including: lessons from past attempts at change; competition and accountability; joined-up public services; fostering supply-side markets; targets and accountability mechanisms; fostering citizen control.

Better OutcomesExplores the benefits of commissioning for outcomes, how to overcome the challenges associated with outcome commissioning, and suggests which public services are best suited to this model.

Public TechnologyThe opportunities technology can create for public service reform and its associated risks (including data sharing, privacy, institutional risk aversion, the role of government/private sector and digital inclusion).

Commissioner Working PapersA collection of papers exploring the underlying assumptions in public services, specifically considering social care, housing, education, contributions and benefits to the system, and accountability.

The Blog

Thursday, 20 January 2011COPD: Cautiously Optimistic about Payment on Delivery
About 15% of people my age have a long term condition. A little over two years ago I developed COPD: Cautiously Optimistic about Payment on Delivery, and have been unable to rid myself of the affliction. Thus having published Better Outcomes, a report exploring the what, where and why of payment-by-outcome, I and several colleagues ... more »

Wednesday, 5 January 2011the condition of conditionality
Interesting contrast in a couple of news stories coming from the states in the last few days. On the one hand, portents in the Guardian of a difficult 2 years for President Obama in the face of a Republican controlled Congress. On the other, a piece in the New York Times on falling inequality in ... more »

Thursday, 25 November 2010Local Identity – the photographic evidence?
Last night I was speaking at the mining institute in Newcastle at a roundtable discussing themes from LOCAL – a book my Dad and I published recently. The book is a mix of photography (based on an artist-in-residence period at Cumbria County Council), and text (an essay on local politics & identity), and the roundtable ... more »